Victor Paul Wierwille
Encyclopedia
Victor Paul Wierwille was the founder of The Way International
(TWI).
(a predecessor of the United Church of Christ
) in 1941, and he officially left that church in 1957. Wierwille graduated from Mission House College with Bachelor of Arts
and Bachelor of Theology
degrees. He then studied at The University of Chicago Divinity School
and received a Master of Theology
in practical theology from Princeton Theological Seminary
. Wierwille later studied at Pikes Peak Bible Seminary and Burton College, a non-accredited institution, and received a doctorate in theology.
In October 1942 he started the precursor to The Way International, Vesper Chimes, which was a radio show broadcast from Lima, Ohio
, incorporating in 1947 as The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan. He incorporated as The Way Incorporated in 1955, maintaining that this was the name that early Christians used for themselves basing his assertion on several uses of "the way" or "this way" in Acts of the Apostles
. Later the official name became The Way International.
Wierwille authored several books which are printed by The Way International's American Christian Press
publishing organization. One book was Jesus Christ is Not God, in which he addressed his belief that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God
and Messiah
but not a persona of the Christian God or a pre-existent being. Wierwille wrote three other works which focused on Jesus Christ and the concept of the Holy Spirit
: Jesus Christ Our Passover, Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, and Receiving the Holy Spirit Today. Other major works include Power for Abundant Living, Christians Should Be Prosperous, Are the Dead Alive Now? and his Studies in Abundant Living five-volume series.
Wierwille, became associated in 1957 with Aramaic Bible scholar George M. Lamsa who finished his translation work for the The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (Lamsa Bible)
in Wierwille's home. Lamsa and Wierwille together produced the first American Aramaic grammar in 1960 for the study of Biblical manuscripts with the ancient Estrangelo
letters. Believing the original New Testament
was written in Aramaic
, he was a supporter of George Lamsa
's translation of the Bible
, and used it frequently.
On February 2, 1961, he moved The Way International
headquarters to New Knoxville, Ohio with approximately 147 acres of farm land.
After graduating from B.G. Leonard's Gifts of the Spirit class in Calgary, Alberta, Wierwille began teaching a similar class that he initially called Receiving the Holy Spirit Today but soon changed to Power for Abundant Living (PFAL). Eventually he expanded it into a teaching series, including a foundational, intermediate and advanced class. Wierwille was the President of The Way International from its incorporation until he retired from leadership in October, 1982; passing the presidency to L. Craig Martindale. He died on May 20, 1985 of hepatocellular carcinoma and melanoma.
Quotes:
The Way International
The Way International is a non denominational Christian ministry based in New Knoxville, Ohio, with home fellowships located in the United States and in over 30 other countries. It was founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 as a radio program, and became The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947, and...
(TWI).
Biography
He was raised in and later ordained by the Evangelical and Reformed ChurchEvangelical and Reformed Church
The Evangelical and Reformed Church was a Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. It was formed in 1934 by the merger of the Reformed Church in the United States with the Evangelical Synod of North America . After the 1934 merger, a minority within the RCUS seceded in order to...
(a predecessor of the United Church of Christ
United Church of Christ
The United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
) in 1941, and he officially left that church in 1957. Wierwille graduated from Mission House College with Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
and Bachelor of Theology
Bachelor of Theology
The Bachelor of Theology is a three to five year undergraduate degree in theological disciplines. Candidates for this degree typically must complete course work in Greek or Hebrew, as well as systematic theology, biblical theology, ethics, homiletics and Christian ministry...
degrees. He then studied at The University of Chicago Divinity School
University of Chicago Divinity School
The University of Chicago Divinity School is a graduate institution at the University of Chicago dedicated to the training of academics and clergy across religious boundaries...
and received a Master of Theology
Master of Theology
A Master of Theology is an advanced theological research degree offered by universities, divinity schools, and seminaries.-North America:In North America, the Master of Theology is considered by the Association of Theological Schools to be the minimum educational credential for teaching...
in practical theology from Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States...
. Wierwille later studied at Pikes Peak Bible Seminary and Burton College, a non-accredited institution, and received a doctorate in theology.
In October 1942 he started the precursor to The Way International, Vesper Chimes, which was a radio show broadcast from Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
, incorporating in 1947 as The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan. He incorporated as The Way Incorporated in 1955, maintaining that this was the name that early Christians used for themselves basing his assertion on several uses of "the way" or "this way" in Acts of the Apostles
ACTS
Acts or ACTS may refer to:Christianity* Acts of the Apostles , a genre of early Christian literature* Acts of the Apostles, the fifth book in the Bible's New Testament...
. Later the official name became The Way International.
Wierwille authored several books which are printed by The Way International's American Christian Press
American Christian Press
American Christian Press serves as the publishing arm of The Way International Biblical research, teaching and fellowship ministry, operating out of New Knoxville, Ohio.-Wierwille, Victor Paul.:* Power for Abundant Living . ISBN 0-910068-01-1...
publishing organization. One book was Jesus Christ is Not God, in which he addressed his belief that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God
Son of God
"Son of God" is a phrase which according to most Christian denominations, Trinitarian in belief, refers to the relationship between Jesus and God, specifically as "God the Son"...
and Messiah
Messiah
A messiah is a redeemer figure expected or foretold in one form or another by a religion. Slightly more widely, a messiah is any redeemer figure. Messianic beliefs or theories generally relate to eschatological improvement of the state of humanity or the world, in other words the World to...
but not a persona of the Christian God or a pre-existent being. Wierwille wrote three other works which focused on Jesus Christ and the concept of the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of the Hebrew Bible, but understood differently in the main Abrahamic religions.While the general concept of a "Spirit" that permeates the cosmos has been used in various religions Holy Spirit is a term introduced in English translations of...
: Jesus Christ Our Passover, Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed, and Receiving the Holy Spirit Today. Other major works include Power for Abundant Living, Christians Should Be Prosperous, Are the Dead Alive Now? and his Studies in Abundant Living five-volume series.
Wierwille, became associated in 1957 with Aramaic Bible scholar George M. Lamsa who finished his translation work for the The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (Lamsa Bible)
Lamsa Bible
Formally titled The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts, the Lamsa Bible first appeared in 1933...
in Wierwille's home. Lamsa and Wierwille together produced the first American Aramaic grammar in 1960 for the study of Biblical manuscripts with the ancient Estrangelo
Syriac alphabet
The Syriac alphabet is a writing system primarily used to write the Syriac language from around the 2nd century BC . It is one of the Semitic abjads directly descending from the Aramaic alphabet and shares similarities with the Phoenician, Hebrew, Arabic, and the traditional Mongolian alphabets.-...
letters. Believing the original New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
was written in Aramaic
Aramaic language
Aramaic is a group of languages belonging to the Afroasiatic language phylum. The name of the language is based on the name of Aram, an ancient region in central Syria. Within this family, Aramaic belongs to the Semitic family, and more specifically, is a part of the Northwest Semitic subfamily,...
, he was a supporter of George Lamsa
George Lamsa
George M. Lamsa was an Assyrian author. He was born in Mar Bishu in what is now the extreme east of Turkey. A native Aramaic speaker, he translated the Aramaic Peshitta Old and New Testaments into English.-History and views:Lamsa was a member of the Assyrian Church of the East...
's translation of the Bible
Lamsa Bible
Formally titled The Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscripts, the Lamsa Bible first appeared in 1933...
, and used it frequently.
On February 2, 1961, he moved The Way International
The Way International
The Way International is a non denominational Christian ministry based in New Knoxville, Ohio, with home fellowships located in the United States and in over 30 other countries. It was founded by Victor Paul Wierwille in 1942 as a radio program, and became The Chimes Hour Youth Caravan in 1947, and...
headquarters to New Knoxville, Ohio with approximately 147 acres of farm land.
After graduating from B.G. Leonard's Gifts of the Spirit class in Calgary, Alberta, Wierwille began teaching a similar class that he initially called Receiving the Holy Spirit Today but soon changed to Power for Abundant Living (PFAL). Eventually he expanded it into a teaching series, including a foundational, intermediate and advanced class. Wierwille was the President of The Way International from its incorporation until he retired from leadership in October, 1982; passing the presidency to L. Craig Martindale. He died on May 20, 1985 of hepatocellular carcinoma and melanoma.
Teachings and Quotes
Audio Recordings:Quotes:
- Motivated By the Goodness of God
- 7 Characteristics of a Faithful Minister
- 8 Victor Paul Wierwille Quotes
- 7 Victor Paul Wierwille Quotes